Retractable enclosure for small land vehicle

Abstract

A portable, retractable, and removable enclosure is installed on a lightweight open vehicle such as an all terrain vehicle (ATV). Guide track sections are mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle to define longitudinal guides. The enclosure includes a pair of rails that engage the guides. The enclosure can be moved between a forward position and a rearward position by moving the rails along a track defined by the guides. In the forward position, the enclosure is positioned over the vehicle and forms a cab. In the rearward position, a forward portion of the enclosure is positioned over the vehicle and a rearward position extends behind the vehicle to form an enclosure for hunting, camping, or fishing.

1. A portable, slidably retractable and removable structure for installation on a lightweight, open vehicle, the structure comprising:
 a guide track for fixed mounting on one side of the vehicle to define longitudinal guides, the guide track including a first guide track section mountable to a front portion of the vehicle and a second guide track section mountable to a rear portion of the vehicle; and 
 an enclosure mounted on the guide track and movable between a forward position in which the enclosure is positioned over the vehicle, and a rearward position in which a forward portion of the enclosure is positioned over the vehicle and a rearward portion of the enclosure is located behind the vehicle. 
 
   
   
     2. The structure of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a first pair of legs extendable downward from the rearward portion of the enclosure to support the rearward portion. 
 
   
   
     3. The structure of  claim 2  and further comprising:
 a second pair of legs forward of the first pair of legs and extendable downward to support the forward portion. 
 
   
   
     4. The structure of  claim 3  wherein the enclosure is movable rearwardly off the guide track to separate the enclosure from the vehicle. 
   
   
     5. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide track section is mountable to a front rack of the vehicle, and the second guide track section is mountable to a rear rack of the vehicle. 
   
   
     6. The structure of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a latch carried on the enclosure and releasably engagable with a notch in the guide track. 
 
   
   
     7. The structure of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 curtains attachable to the enclosure for extending downward from the rearward portion when the enclosure is in the rearward position. 
 
   
   
     8. The structure of  claim 7 , wherein the curtains are positioned along inner lower portions of the enclosure when not in use. 
   
   
     9. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes longitudinal rails for slidably engaging the longitudinal guides. 
   
   
     10. The structure of  claim 9 , the longitudinal rails have an L-shaped cross-section, and wherein the longitudinal guides define a guide passage having an L-shaped cross-section. 
   
   
     11. The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the enclosure includes a framework. 
   
   
     12. The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal rails include a left rail extending along a bottom of a left side of the framework and a right rail extending along a bottom of a right side of the framework. 
   
   
     13. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes a front wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a rear wall, a top, and a door. 
   
   
     14. The structure of  claim 13 , wherein a retractable windshield is mounted to the front wall. 
   
   
     15. The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the enclosure further includes retractable footwell covers. 
   
   
     16. A portable, slidably retractable and removable structure for installation on a lightweight, open vehicle, the structure comprising:
 a front guide track for fixed mounting on the vehicle to define left and right front guides; 
 a rear guide track for fixed mounting on the vehicle to define left and right rear guides; and 
 an enclosure having a left rail for engaging the left front guide and the left rear guide, and a right rail for engaging the right front guide and right rear guide, so that the enclosure can be moved with respect to the vehicle. 
 
   
   
     17. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein the front and rear guide tracks define a forward position in which the enclosure is positioned over the vehicle, and a rearward position in which a forward portion of the enclosure is positioned over the vehicle and a rearward portion of the enclosure is located behind the vehicle. 
   
   
     18. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein the enclosure includes a framework, and wherein the left rail extends along a bottom of a left side of the framework and the right rail extends along a bottom of a right side of the framework. 
   
   
     19. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein the enclosure includes a front wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a rear wall, a top, and a door. 
   
   
     20. A portable, slidably retractable and removable structure for installation on a lightweight, open vehicle, the structure comprising:
 a guide track for fixed mounting on the vehicle to define longitudinal guides; and 
 an enclosure that includes a front wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a rear wall, a top, a door, and retractable footwell covers, the enclosure mounted on the guide track and movable between a forward position in which the enclosure is positioned over the vehicle, and a rearward position in which a forward portion of the enclosure is positioned over the vehicle and a rearward portion of the enclosure is located behind the vehicle.